Train collision in Egypt kills 4 south of Cairo

CAIRO – Two trains traveling south of the Egyptian capital collided on Saturday, killing at least four people, officials said.

An error from the switch operator is believed to have caused the accident, security officials said. The two trains, one coming from Cairo and another from the south, were traveling between two villages near Fayyoum, an oasis province 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Cairo.

The Health Ministry said in comments published by the state news agency that four people were killed and 30 injured. Earlier, security officials said five were killed.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Transport Minister Mohammed el-Meteeni told Misr 25 TV, a channel affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood group, that twelve people were still hospitalized and 18 others were discharged. He said he was heading to the area to inspect the site.

Egypt's railway system has a poor safety record, mostly blamed on badly maintained equipment and poor management. Egypt's worst railway disaster took place in February 2002 when a train heading to southern Egypt caught fire, killing 363 people.